So it carries on. But I am hopeful.
Patches and one of BB’s pups (I didn’t even get to name him) had to be put down today.
The Mupanigawa pack is now just 5 wild dogs, from 20 only 6 weeks ago. But I have to say they are all looking really well. I know they can fall victim to the dreaded rabies any time but it’s been about 2 weeks since we inoculated them and here’s to hoping we do get to save some.
The pack might have killed something in the night, as a couple of dogs looked fed.
This afternoon they had their greeting ceremony but just didn’t seem to want to get out hunting. It is possible they were leaving it till later to hunt with the moon, which is now half.
I’m finding it hard now to keep documenting their demise and left them for most of the day.
Always one of the most peaceful places on the reserve is down at Malilangwe dam. Although I have a view of it from camp, it has a very different feeling when walking along its banks. There is always something new to be seen and the atmosphere is tranquil.
The herds of hippo lie out on the banks in this cool weather but are quick to duck into the water when a vehicle or man approaches. They never used to be like this, but when the anthrax epidemic swept through here a few years ago they were all vaccinated and the trauma of that experience still sits with them. I’m sure if I put in time with them they would soon relax.
But my time at the dam was great and I do just love walking that shoreline.
This drawing is not typical of other portraits of men. Usually they’re depicted to be very muscular. This guy almost looks like he’s wearing trousers, which of course had not yet been invented and weren’t necessary in the warm climate they lived in.
Freezing start.
I was up early dressed in many many layers of clothing and sitting deep in my sleeping bag as I drove out to Nhoro pan where we were going to be inoculating a pack of hyaenas. And by golly was it cold. I know there wasn’t any ice on the road, or snow on the trees but the windchill was well well below. AND you have to understand, us Africans just can’t handle the cold.
Well the hyaenas did pay us a visit but weren’t interested in hanging around for some idle chatter while we darted them. So we had no joy there.
The news on the Mupanigawa pack continues to be sad. Cracker-Jack was full of the rabies virus this afternoon and I had to put him down. That now leaves the pack with only 7, and 2 more dogs are possibly showing signs. It’s all just too sad.
And very sad for my daughter Lindy, 11. She and Penny, 9, always take much delight in naming new pack members or hyaena cubs and lion cubs. And now Cracker-Jack was Lindy’s last dog.
Penny too only has one pup left, Brownie, who for now is looking fine.
So the dogs headed off hunting with yet another member missing. This no doubt puts more pressure on their hunting success.
These rough surfaces must be so hard for the artist to paint on.
All these women together dancing. Was this what the artist was imagining in a trance? Had he been away hunting for too long?
Rabies continues its advance.
Back in the saddle again after a short break, and the news is not good.
Before I went away, a baboon was following a game scout on his patrol. This was very weird behaviour and the baboon was subsequently shot. The baboon tested positive for rabies!
On Sunday a hyaena was running rampant in one of the scout pickets biting at everything. They managed to shoot this hyaena too. More than likely another rabies victim.
This is getting quite scary now that other animals are being infected.
Reserve management are now planning to inoculate as many hyaenas as possible and then also the lions. This is going to quite some undertaking.
I found the Mupanigawa pack this afternoon on a young male impala kill. All 9 dogs were there, but Club was not joining in in the feeding and her stomach was totally withdrawn. She did on a couple of occasions approach the carcass but the other dogs attacked her. This was the first time that I’d seen the other dogs turn on a rabid one.
But it was not this behaviour that was keeping her from feeding. She battled to chew and swallow even the tiniest of pieces of meat lying around. The rabies virus affects that part of the brain, which controls the tongue. It causes paralyses and prevents swallowing. Typically the result of this is the animals salivate a lot, but I haven’t seen any of this in the wild dogs.
To save the rest of the pack, I again had to make the terrible decision to put Club down, as she is now a dangerous infectious source for the rest of the pack.
And things don’t look good for the other 8 members. Another Alpha pup was possibly showing the beginning signs of infection but I had to spare it. Of course I want to give all the dogs the chance to survive but I also want to save all the dogs from infection by those going down. It will always be a tough choice.
And Cracker-Jack might also be showing the first signs of infection.
Being back on the range I will again be keeping a close watch on our pack.
Looks like a person trying battling to get away from the jaws of an animal. Is this a man-eater?
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